Tandro

Thanks for all the info everyone! I am ashamed to say it though, but every point raised is something I am doing to a limited degree, something I've either done and stopped (for some stupid reason) or meaning to do (that never got anyone anywhere, now did it). Because actual bass 'practice' time was so limited, I tried to see what I could offload to dead time when I was away from my bass. So as Pete alluded to, currently my ear training is basically relegated to my bus ride in the morning to work. I've got an app on my phone that plays various intervals that you try to recognise. While that is good and I'll keep doing it, I realise that is not enough (for me), especially when trying to learn it and not just for maintenance. With the noise and distractions I don't focus enough. Evidence of this is when I do the same thing but in some quiet at home/office, I can discern the intervals with more success and helps me 'learn' and internalize it better. I've read quite a few different things that have mentioned Banacos, and I even used to use that software from miles.be on my old computer, not putting it on my new one! Transcription is always mentioned by everyone and I've got it written down as top priority on my 'music things to do' list (those lists need to be banished). As for keyboard, I actually got one early this year to get back into piano (did it when I was a kid) for the very purpose of harmony and visualizing all the theoretical concepts...and where is it sat, in the box. I need to revamp my approach to this ear training, along with singing stuff. As mentioned by Bilbo, the ultimate goal for me is to link ideas to fingers. Unfortunately Pete, I have gone down the same road and I'm finding things at the cost of 'years of slow discovery'. But better now than later. I was pleasantly surprised to find the Chris Tarry stuff available again! I thought it was all subscription based now. One last thing on the Bruce Arnold One Note series, is it basically all this same stuff? Is it just him playing the cadence and a note or is there more meat to it and worth the investment?

Hi All, Just wanted some thoughts on methods to learn intervals by ear. There are some that say you should just try to slowly learn them devoid of any aids, so I guess keep playing the interval and listening to it until you learn it. There are others who swear by using something like a well know song that starts with a particular known interval, so you hear the interval and you have a 'reference' point to compare it against, for example a perfect 5th is the start of the Star Wars theme. I've been trying to just learn them without using aids cause the reasoning is that methods with reference points, your brain has to stop and think of some other reference point and then realize what interval that is. So it takes more time, but with music you want to learn to instantaneously recognize something without extra time taken, no? But with my slow progress, I'm just wondering if to use some reference points. Incidentally, I can pretty much recognize a 5th because when I first started doing this I used that Star Wars theme song and I hear that now, heh. Does it really make a difference which method I use to learn? Is one better than the other? If using references will I eventually just 'not' think about the reference and just know that particular interval in 'real time'? Thanks for any experiences you may have on this.

Another great purchase from John. I really have to thank him extra this time around though. He had a beautiful Warwick I just 'had' to have but due to circumstances I did not think I'd be able to get it. However, we worked out something (even though he did not have to!) and in the end we both came out winners...and I have the bass that I 'had' to have (and let me tell you, it is awesome). Thank you John!

Got to say much _much_ thanks to Nigel. He had a lovely shiny bass (literally!) that I really wanted but I just did not have the cash. I knew some people were doing deals with paying in installments and I figured, what the heck, its worth a shot and I shyly asked him if he would consider it (and I expected to get shot down in a flash!). To my surprise he was awesome about it and we worked out something. To make things even more complicated, it was a 3 way deal! But it all worked out amazing in the end and just goes to show that with some of the great people on BC everybody comes out a winner. We met up and he is an absolute great guy. I would not hesitate ever to do business with him again. Thanks again Nigel!!!

Same thing here guys. I 'really' don't know if I have the time, but I just don't think I can pass this up. I might have to force myself up early in the morning to follow along and practice what they are doing...but I just gotta.

Just thought I'd mention this to anyone interested who may not know. There is a really awesome sight called coursera.org. that offers online University Courses for free. I was actually signing up for something else when I realised that there is a 5 week Improvisation Course by Gary Burton starting next week and it won't cost a thing: [url="https://www.coursera.org/course/improvisation"]https://www.coursera...e/improvisation[/url] Some mention was made of the site last year on this forum but at the time there may have not been much in the way of music education, but there a few now on various topics. There is also this 2 hour session with Burton on youtube you can check out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2txO_u2eNg

Now realised that its 2 years to the day since starting this post. I too went to Tom Kenrick shortly after that, and still do! His patience (especially with me, heh) and ability to help one develop has helped me so much. I can't recommend him enough.